Qualcomm's new 'Elite' chip aims to deliver reliable Wi-Fi earbuds

Qualcomm has introduced a new audio chip designed to address a long-standing limitation of wireless earbuds: reliable, high-quality streaming when a paired phone is out of easy Bluetooth range.

The chip, called the Snapdragon Sound Elite Gen 2, is Qualcomm's first to integrate what the company describes as "micro-power Wi-Fi 6E" directly into the chip itself, potentially allowing earbuds or audio glasses to stream high-quality lossless audio without the interruptions common to standard Bluetooth connections.

Solving the dropout problem

Wireless earbud users have often experienced audio cutting out when a connected phone is left in another room, buried in a couch, or otherwise out of typical Bluetooth range. By building Wi-Fi 6E support into the audio chip, Qualcomm aims to give device makers a way to maintain stronger, more consistent connections.

The technology is aimed at earbud and audio glasses manufacturers who license Qualcomm's chips for their products, meaning consumers would see the benefits only once devices built around the new chip reach the market.

Qualcomm has not detailed a specific timeline for when devices using the Snapdragon Sound Elite Gen 2 will become available to consumers.